CE will be a part of the City’s climate and sustainability strategy and an increase of staff working on CE issues is planned for the future. There is also a strong commitment to promote CE shown by Munich-based non-governmental organisations, universities, start-ups, and private companies. 

Urban rural predominance

Predominantly urban

'Building an Integrated Take-Back Infrastructure for Reusable Packaging in the food service and catering sector'

The City of Munich is working on creating a cross-system take-back infrastructure for reusable packaging in the catering industry. The goal is to develop a city-wide infrastructure for return systems and raise public awareness to encourage the use of reusable packaging. 

With this solution, Munich aims to enhance return facilities for reusable packaging in public spaces, making it easier for people to return items. By doing so, the proposed solution hopes to increase the adoption of reusable packaging in the to-go sector and contribute to a more sustainable, CE in Munich.

Objectives

• Munich aims to support strategic decision-making on its journey toward a more CE. This includes closing resource loops, reducing resource consumption and minimising climate impact in the metropolitan area of Munich.
• The city seeks to promote the use of reusable packaging in the catering industry by raising awareness and coordinating support structures that help businesses transition to more sustainable, circular practices.

Systemic nature

The City of Munich's Circular Systemic Solution aims to enhance the circularity of the catering industry, focusing on packaging. The solution seeks to raise awareness among citizens and increase the adoption of reusable packaging by providing accessible solutions for take-back schemes. This initiative involves a range of stakeholders, including various city departments, industry players in the reusable sector, local organisations (e.g. Rehab Republic), the local catering industry (e.g. restaurants, canteens), and citizens.

The initiative promotes circular practices through cascading approaches, addressing governance, regulatory frameworks, and circular business models. The project’s impacts are wide-reaching, with positive effects on social, economic, and environmental factors, such as reducing waste and littering, creating new business opportunities, and fostering a more sustainable local economy.

Expected impact

The City of Munich aims to reduce CO2 emissions and the use of resources, while reducing waste by minimising the amount of single-use packaging in the catering industry. The initiative will also foster the creation of new business models, strengthen collaborations among businesses, and build greater trust within the sector.

By the resolution of 18 December 2019, the Munich City Council joined the global coalition of cities declaring a climate emergency, thus recognising that the measures and plans taken so far are not sufficient to limit global warming to the 1.5 degrees Celsius target. With the same draft resolution, the goal of achieving climate neutrality for the entire city was brought forward to 2035.

Zero Waste is a sustainability strategy that aims to produce as little waste as possible and to reuse raw materials. By implementing the Zero Waste concept at municipal level, it is possible to minimise the amount of waste, energy consumption and the use of resources with appropriate measures, thereby contributing to climate neutrality and CO2 minimisation.

On 20 July 2020, the Munich City Council passed the resolution ‘Circular Munich – Circular Economy for a Sustainable Munich’. This illustrates the possibilities for the City of Munich to develop a concept for implementing CE and a Zero Waste Strategy. The resolution finds that the cooperation and networking of various actors of the urban society, local economy and institutions is fundamental for the development into a Circular City.

To develop a coherent concept for action, an analysis of the current status and potential is required, for example on material flows. An essential point of the resolution was the development into a Zero Waste City for municipal waste, to be achieved through measures to avoid waste and extend product life (through such actions as repair, second-hand goods, and resource management).

Leading organisation

City of Munich

Unit/department/section

Department of Climate and Environmental Protection

Participation in other relevant initiatives

• NetZeroCities (Pilot and Mission city)
• Covenant of Mayors

(Other) Key resources

• City-wide goal of climate neutrality by 2035
• City-wide goal of becoming a Zero Waste City